Guyana: Rainforest & Rivers Expedition

This truly is a wildlife haven like nowhere else on the planet. Previous trips have seen jaguar, ocelots, giant river otters, tapirs swim by within meters of our boat, as well as a huge diversity of bird life.

Specific specie sightings are never guaranteed, but you'll see a whole host of jungle wildlife here. Everyday our eco-guides will show you everything the jungle has to offer, either by boat or hikes into the jungle. Our expert guides will identify wildlife from harpy eagles to mammals and the smallest insects as we explore.

You can see our previous wildlife trip reports here for more detail on previous sightings.

From 2026, a resident pair of Harpy Eagles are preparing to breed again, giving our guests very high chances of seeing this species. It is common to see species like giant river otters, caiman, Goliath bird-eating spiders, a range of monkey species as well as capybaras and evidence of jaguars.

You don't need to be super fit to join our expeditions.

Most of our transport is done by boat, so you will need to be comfortable getting in and out of a relatively low-lying seat in a canoe-style boat. There will be optional hikes of varying lengths and challenge throughout the trip, but you should be able to walk short distances of around 2km even if you choose to skip these optional hikes.

Due to the trip's remoteness, you will need to be free of any medical concerns that require regular medical attention.

You can take a look at the full expedition kit list here.

We’re always happy to provide further advice and recommendations.

We have included some guidance on what photography equipment you might want to bring on our kit list. You can find that here.

You're free to bring a drone on our expedition, however, we do have strict controls on flying drones near wildlife.

We do not permit guests to fly drones near wildlife, including both predators and prey. You are free to fly drones for landscape photography purposes but note take off must be approved by the Expedition Leader.

You will be in a comfortable hotel in Georgetown on arrival with all the expected amenities.

In Yupukari we will stay in a lodge in a traditional Amerindian village community, again with all the expected amenities of private shower rooms, fans and delicious meals.

In our remote jungle camp you’ll have access to private showers, toilets and changing spaces. Many choose instead to bathe in our nearby jungle stream every evening to cool off – it’s a wonderful way of getting close to the nature surrounding us.

You will be sleeping in hammocks for the duration of the jungle component of the expedition. These are housed under boxed mosquito nets and are very comfortable to sleep in. Please note there are no ‘walls’ per se between hammocks, rather they are hung under an open plan traditional long house. All bedding is provided.

Temperatures are generally high in the day, cooling off at night and many guests will need to wear a light jumper in the evening. Traditionally we wouldn’t expect rain during the dry season months when our expeditions depart, but this is increasingly not the case with climate change. This means you should expect some rainfall during your trip with us.

As we operate in a primary rainforest environment, insects are naturally present. We schedule our expeditions during the traditional dry season when mosquito numbers are typically lower. However, increasingly unpredictable weather patterns mean rainfall is still possible, so preparation is essential.

For your comfort and protection, your sleeping hammock is housed under a boxed mosquito net. During the day—particularly around dawn and dusk—your primary defence will be wearing lightweight, long-sleeved clothing and applying a high-quality insect repellent.

Our cooks are very well trained and cook delicious food every day, whether it's caught from the river or foraged - every day is different and fresh. Expect tasty BBQ fish, stews of beef and chicken, local veggies, juice, beer, and regional rum.

If you have dietary preferences these can be catered for, just talk to us. Please note vegans can be catered for, but you will generally have a lack of variety, both in our jungle camps and Georgetown.

Nonetheless, whatever your preferences, you’ll be well fed!

Yes. You will be provided with safe drinking water throughout the expedition. Water will either be bottled, boiled or purified by chlorine tablets or water pumps before it is used for drinking or cooking.

Absolutely. Many of our guests join us as individuals and often find they meet wonderful like-minded people on our trips.

More often than not you will have your own room, but this may change depending on the makeup of our group. For example, if we have 8 individuals, it is likely some will need to share twin rooms in Yupukari. However, everyone will get an individual hammock and 'bed space' in our jungle camp.

There is no single-person supplement for this trip, and we ask that solo-travellers remain flexible in case sharing is required, which to date has not been required.

You will be offline for the majority of the trip. 

You will have wifi in your hotel in Georgetown and at our first location in Yupukari, but it may be slow. At our main jungle base camp there is no wifi or mobile signal.

We will hold a method of emergency communication for the duration of the expedition. This is strictly for emergency use only.

Your health and safety are our top priorities. Because we operate in true wilderness environments, we have rigorous, regularly reviewed protocols in place:

• Expert Leadership: You will be guided by a highly trained Expedition Leader who is responsible for your safety and well-being.

• Medical Equipment & Comms: We carry a comprehensive medical kit and an emergency satellite communication device at all times.

• Remote Medical Support: We have dedicated remote access to a British medical doctor throughout the entire expedition.

• Evacuation Plans: For extreme emergencies, we have pre-specified evacuation procedures designed to get you to the medical care you need quickly.

We advise all our guests to contact your local GP or travel health centre as vaccine requirements and malarial risk can vary over time. On average about 50% of our guests choose to take antimalarials for the duration of the trip. As we are not healthcare professionals, we cannot give detailed advice.

You are required to have travel insurance covering you for the duration of the expedition and for all the activities you will be undertaking. This includes trekking/hiking, as well as helicopter medical evacuation.

You will be asked to provide your insurance information closer to departure.

We strongly recommend that you take out cancellation and curtailment insurance as part of your cover as soon as you have booked one of our expeditions to protect against cancellations.

You should arrive in Georgetown on Day 01. You are free to arrive anytime and an airport transfer will be arranged for you. You will be able to check into your hotel by around 2pm. Early check-ins and additional nights will be at the expense of the guest and arranged directly with the hotel.

You can depart any time after 11pm on the last day of the expedition (Day 12). However, a single night in a hotel is provided for you in Georgetown, so most people will fly the following morning in case of delays. An airport transfer will be provided for you.

Guyana is visa-free for most passports. However, you must check the requirements yourself before departure for your specific nationality.

Please ensure you also check vaccination information carefully before departure as these can be subject to change.

While same-sex sexual activity remains criminalised in Guyana, these laws are rarely enforced in practice. However, the country remains highly socially conservative, and there are currently no comprehensive legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Public displays of affection can attract negative attention, so we strongly advise LGBTQ+ travellers to exercise a high degree of discretion regarding their sexual orientation and gender identity while in the country.

Because our expeditions take you deep into isolated regions to live and work alongside traditional Amerindian communities and local guides, the cultural environment you will experience is more traditional. Wild Expeditions is a welcoming, fully inclusive company, and our Expedition Leaders will always prioritise your safety, comfort, and well-being above all else.

We are always happy to have a confidential chat if you'd like to discuss this further before booking.

Tips for local staff are completely at your discretion. All our staff are paid fairly for their work. Tips are welcomed in Guyanese Dollar and USD.

Giving tips at the end of your trip is a wonderful way of showing your gratitude for their hard work. If you plan to give tips, we can provide guidance on this, just get in touch.